At Bridgeport Digital, our company prioritizes adapting to a changed mindset. In order for our company to be successful, we must be willing to change our mindset to implement scrum methodology genuinely. This goes for many other companies as well, times change and if companies want to succeed, they must be willing to change with the times. To help solidify this methodology, let’s think about what it's like to follow a GPS.
“The important thing is not your process. The important thing is your process for improving your process.” - Henrik Kniberg
Many of us are taught that when there is something we’re meant to know, it’s right or wrong. However, when using a GPS navigation system, it gives the driver directions and the driver is expected to follow wherever it leads. Oftentimes, people are distracted and because of that, they miss directions and other times the app glitches; ultimately it will change directions to the destination. Nevertheless, in this case the GPS modifies based on other options that are available and unless there are one-way streets or dead end streets, other options are available. This practice uses scrum by testing out the hypothesis and adjusting based on current information (and new incoming information). It’s better to have a route with many options and this is the same concept with scrum methodology.
The Different Steps We Take With Agile
Developing a goal for a company is essential when using scrum methodology, it maintains adaptation in a company. The goal is set in place with the understanding that you will frequently check on the progress of the goal and change, if need be, to continuously progress. It’s the direction and the position a company aspires for itself and continuous planning is scrum at work. It would be helpful to know we worked our way into understanding the goal and to know we have the evidence of the goal when looking at the current state versus the future state (a goal). This is what is known as continuous planning, where we look at something, we test it to see if it works, and if it does then we can continue on the path because we’ve chosen the right path for the company to grow. However, if it doesn't work the way we planned then we change the plan and mirror the future state, which brings us back to the concept of continuous planning and testing process. With continuous testing comes continuous integration.
Looking at Statistics in Scrum
Following a GPS map can be a similar experience to using the scrum methodology as it relates to a changing mindset. Directions can change because of road closures, dead ends, one-way streets, etc. but the GPS can change as information changes. Software development is integrative, we expect scrum’s methods are necessary to be successful for this industry because of its ongoing changes (updates). Below we have statistics showing the different ways and places where agile is actively used for organizations that should practice agile in software development.
First let’s talk about IT. When we look at IT, which is integrative, employees interact with one another over current information, such as artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a concept about changing the way things work based on new information. They develop devices that can learn, such as Siri (which is a private digital assistant). You can voice activate Siri, you can change her voice, change her to speak slower or faster, and ask her to store data (such as a joke to remember); which is also integrative and adaptive to what we need. IT uses adaptation in its work processes and it helps to develop software like Siri.
(Agile practices are not limited to software organizations. A new question to the survey this year inquired about which areas of the organization have adopted agile principles and practices.)
Why We Look at Statistics in Scrum
Back in 1911, Frederick Taylor’s book called, “Principles of Scientific Management” said that management had more knowledge than anyone in a company. Consequently, management arranged companies and they set up a process for production and since (according to Taylor) management had most of the knowledge, managers managed employees and their tasks. Operations are how things are developed and built. However, in modern times, the way factories function is with the knowledge required to run successfully by trusting knowledge workers to make decisions that move the factories closer to their goal.
Software development is not a rational process. It’s a process made by people with feelings, with bodies and with thinking. And by putting all those together I can be a more effective software developer. - Kent Beck
For jobs that are non-tech related, there are things in the market that need to change based upon current events or opportunities, and so, having a scrum practice is similar to what it would look like in sales. Things change upon customers' needs, which is why customers’ needs are constantly surveyed and understood. Next, is HR. IF we have an HR team that is progressive, the HR team should be able to understand how things are changing; they should move in a direction of working agile. These are only some of the areas where we should see, currently, agile is used and where these jobs will grow as we integrate more IT.
What is Agile?
A development approach that incorporates iteration and continuous customer feedback to successively refine and deliver a product.
Agile uses continuous planning, continuous testing, and continuous integration, of both the project and the software.
Agile is lightweight, especially compared to traditional waterfall-style processes and designed to be inherently susceptible to change.
Agile methods focus on empowering people to collaborate and make decisions together quickly and efficiently.
